Joseph - Age 32 - Santa Fe Sanchez

JOSEPH “JOEY” SANCHEZ, 32, a resident of Santa Fe passed away November 12, 2011 after a long illness surrounded by his loving family. Joey was preceded in death by his grandparents, Elizario and Estefanita Garcia and Aquilino and Dolores Sanchez; grand-nephew, Isaac Mortera and many uncles, aunts, and cousins. He was born in Santa Fe, NM, on May 5, 1979 to Joe and Pita Sanchez. He attended Santa Fe and Pojoaque Public Schools where he was in the gifted program from grade school through high school. He was Santa Fe County Spelling Bee Champion for three years straight. He graduated from Pojoaque High School in 1997. Joey attended the Santa Fe Community College and the University of New Mexico, then went to work in Tulsa, Oklahoma as a software engineer until 2006 when he returned to Santa Fe to take a position with the State of New Mexico. Mr. Sanchez is survived by parents, Joe and Pita Sanchez; sister, Karen and husband Fred Vigil; nieces and nephews, Stephanie and husband Lou Mortera, Matthew Vigil, Thomas Vigil and girlfriend Sara Jordan; cousins he considered as sisters, Deniece Sanchez and Veronica Apodaca; aunts and uncles, Gloria Montoya (Joe), Elizario Garcia Jr. (Emily), Ray Garcia (Marvine), Flora Martinez (Ross), Annabelle Brazeal (Ron), Robert Garcia (Lucy), Joe Garcia (Debbie), Ben Garcia (Charlotte), Dorothy Garcia, Phil Sanchez, Gilbert Sanchez (Lourdes), J.A. Sanchez (Maida), Mary Alice Vigil (Orlando), Wilfred Sanchez (Bessie), Larry Sanchez (Stella), Bernard Sanchez, Cecilia O’Neil, Cleo Holt (Harold), Geraldine Sanchez, Theresa Louton (Michael) and numerous cousins and special friends. Joey spent so much time in and out of the St. Vincent’s hospital that he established lasting friendships with the nursing and maintenance staff. Special thanks to Father Santillanes and Deacon Danny Valdez for their spiritual support and to Helen, Nancy and Archie of AmberCare Hospice. Public visitation will be held on Tuesday, November 15, 2011 at 6:30 p.m. at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church in Pojoaque with a rosary to be recited at 7:00 p.m. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Wednesday, November 16, 2011 at 10:00 a.m. at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church in Pojoaque. Burial will follow at the Pojoaque Catholic Cemetery with the following serving as pallbearers: Matthew and Thomas Vigil, Santiago Roybal, Gabriel Garnica, Francisco and Diego Ortiz, Danny, David and Larry Sanchez and Mando Lujan. Serving as honorary pallbearers will be: all of his cousins. In lieu of flowers please make donations in memory of Joey to the Benito Garcia Memorial Fund at any Zia Credit Union located at 1001 Central Ave., Los Alamos, 505-662-4671. The family of Joseph Joey Sanchez has entrusted their loved one to DeVargas Funeral Home & Crematory of the Española Valley. 505-747-7477

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